Emmy and Grammy winner Patton Oswalt has a long history with the Triangle, dating back to when he opened for Bill Hicks at Goodnights in Raleigh. He’s become a true multi-hyphenate star, a prominent stand-up comedian, author, actor, talk-show guest, and more. His work ranges from acerbic, geeky references—say, a hilarious takedown of George Lucas’s Star Wars prequels—to emotionally raw revelations: Annihilation, his most recent stand-up special, deals bluntly with the passing of his late wife, Michelle McNamara (whose bestselling nonfiction crime book, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, he helped finish). It’s good to have Oswalt back in Raleigh. Here’s hoping the noted cinephile will check out the retro-VHS store at the Alamo Drafthouse while he’s in town. —Zack Smith